Driving Roads in Japan

Explore scenic and exciting driving roads across Japan.

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Driving in Japan

Japan's mountainous geography creates an unusually varied network of scenic driving roads. Across central Honshū, routes climb through the Japanese Alps and the highlands of Nagano, Gifu, Toyama, and Yamanashi, while the Fuji-Hakone-Izu area combines volcanic terrain, lakes, ridgelines, and Pacific views. Farther north, Tōhoku has mountain routes such as the Bandai-Azuma Skyline through the Azuma range, and Hokkaidō offers broader, more open roads across agricultural plains, volcanic landscapes, and remote coastlines. Western Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū add forested mountain roads, dramatic shorelines, caldera landscapes, and bridges connecting islands across the Seto Inland Sea. Road character ranges from narrow, winding local routes to purpose-built scenic toll roads and modern expressways. Mountain routes can include steep gradients, sharp bends, tunnels, and limited services, so checking individual road access and conditions is important when planning a drive.

Season & conditions

Seasonal conditions vary greatly from subtropical Okinawa to snowy Hokkaidō and the high mountains of Honshū. Many major roads and expressways operate year-round, with winter controls or temporary closures during severe weather, while high-altitude scenic roads and mountain passes may close completely for several months because of snow. Routes such as the Bandai-Azuma Skyline typically have a winter closure. Heavy rain, typhoons, landslides, volcanic activity, and other hazards can also cause temporary restrictions, so current road information should be checked before mountain or remote drives.

Tolls & access

Japan has an extensive distance-based toll system on most expressways rather than a national vignette. ETC electronic toll collection is widely used, while many conventional toll gates also accept cash and, where indicated, credit cards; some interchanges and lanes are ETC-only. Separate toll roads, bridges, tunnels, and scenic routes may have their own charges and payment arrangements. Rental cars are commonly available with ETC equipment, but drivers should confirm the ETC card arrangement with the rental company and check payment options for individual scenic roads.